The Influencer Lifestyle Check: What's The "Right Way" To Do It? We Asked The Experts

If there's anything social media could take credit for in our generation today, it's one thing: it's where anyone can be who and what they want to be. With digital accessibility, anyone can rebrand themselves however they want to appear. Curated feeds. Flexing the lavish life and calling it a day. But up to what extent? Where exactly does the limit stand? 

According to Tisha Colibao, a political communications executive, being a social media influencer isn't just about curation—it's about shaping minds. And that's political.

"Social media isn't just aesthetics or self-expression here, it's political by default. Every post either reinforces inequality or challenges it," Tisha says in an interview with Cosmopolitan Philippines. "At the end of the day, influence is a form of power," Tisha stresses.

Pola Del Monte, founder of Miss Chief Editor and one of Cosmopolitan Philippines' Women Of Influence 2024 awardees, emphasizes that influence comes with great responsibility and the moral obligation "to act with integrity."

"While there's no single 'right' way to be an influencer, it's reasonable, and necessary, to expect a minimum standard of ethics and responsibility from anyone who holds public influence," Pola points out in an interview with Cosmo. 

She pointed out that influence and accountability go hand in hand, which is why public outrage tends to flare when influencers flaunt their privilege. A clear example is the rise of so-called "nepo babies" turned influencers.

"At its core, it reflects a deeper cultural problem: the fascination of the public towards wealth and privilege. It's good to remind ourselves that excessive wealth is often built upon excessive greed—and there are systems that enable and sustain it," Pola highlights. "The curated glamour we see in influencer culture can obscure the deeper realities of inequality, exploitation, and privilege," she adds. 

Tisha echoes the same point: "When people flaunt wealth online (especially when that wealth is tied to political families or those that benefit from these connections) it stops being 'lifestyle content' and becomes a statement about power. That's why audiences are right to demand accountability."

Tisha continued that accountability shouldn't stop at calling out "tone-deaf or irresponsible content," and that women shouldn't be the only ones held accountable—men should be, too!

"Accountability extends to the families, networks, and institutions behind it. Otherwise, it's too easy for powerful men to hide behind the women in their lives, while women are left carrying the weight of public anger," she concluded.

Veteran journalist Jacque Manabat shares with Cosmopolitan Philippines that while there is no exact the right way to handling "digital fame," the job comes with trust. And "to honor that trust, you have to be ethical."

"To influencers: even if you're not a journalist, you are a still publisher of information, and that comes with a responsibility," Jacque emphasized. "The recent rise of influencers showing off luxurious lifestyles with no clear source of income is a clear sign that this trust is being broken. That's not inspiring. That is a lie. It's a betrayal of the audience's trust," she said. 

You owe your audience decency and honesty. According to Jacque, influence means people trust your recommendations—they follow your voice. A high follower count is not the end goal; what truly matters is building transparency. 

"Disclose your paid partnerships. It's not just a legal requirement in many places, it's a sign of respect for your followers," Jacque urged. 

It's easy to get swayed when the paycheck we're talking about is a fortune. But Pola reminds us to always ask the hard questions: "Who benefits from this post? What systems am I reinforcing? What harm might I be overlooking?"

"It might seem like overthinking... but once you have a platform, you're no longer operating in isolation. You become part of a larger machinery: one that shapes culture, influences behavior, and reinforces systems, whether intentionally or not," she adds. 

And that's the thing—every collaboration or campaign is never just content. It's a choice that can either uphold your credibility or compromise it. Just like all aspects of work, being an influencer should have non-negotiables: values and integrity.

Credibility is the price of influence. And one must never take it lightly. As Tisha puts it, you should be "adding dignity, insight, or meaning to the conversation, rather than reducing [influence] to display."

With that being said, doing your research is essential. Partnering with brands shouldn't just be for display—it should also serve a greater purpose. Fact-checking sources, information, and even partnerships is just as important.

At the end of the day, every post comes with a price. And whether you like it or not, you're contributing to a broader narrative. So choose responsibly and do your research diligently. 

"To use social media more responsibly, you can follow some of the core principles of journalism. You must verify information before you share it and be accountable to your audience," Jacque says.